Finishing apparatus



1967 J. F. RAMPE 3,337,997

FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTCR. JOHNF. PQMPE BYWM yaw/QM 4 Fig. 7

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Aug. 29, 1967 J. F. RAMPE 3,337,997

I FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.JOHN F. Pam/ E ATTOENEKE.

Aug. 29, 1967 J, F, RAMPE 3,337,997

FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Fig. 4

INVENTOR. JOHN F. PAMPE BY flow MM MW MAM' ATTO/QMEv s.

Jv F. RAMPE Aug. 29, 1 967 FINISHING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledMarch 24, 196E INVENTOR. JOHN F. QAMPE BY fiwwmfi'} M,

4 TTOPNEYi Aug. 29, 1967 J. F. RAMPE 3,337,997

FINISHING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1965 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 6

INVENTOR JOHN F Pnmoe BY M,

ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 29, 1967 Filed March 24, 1965 J. F. RAMPE FINISHING APPARATUS 7Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR. Jo /v F. PAM/ E x A TUBA/5Y5.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,337,997 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 3,337,997FINISHING APPARATUS John F. Rampe, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (14915Woodworth Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44110) Filed Mar. 24, 1965, Ser. No.442,457 4 Claims. (Cl. 51-163) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to vibratory finishing apparatus of the type shown and describedin copending US. application, Ser. No. 357,212, filed Apr. 3, 1964, nowPatent No. 3,318,051.

In that application is disclosed an orbital type vibratory apparatus forthe surface finishing of articles such as castings, forgings, stampings,etc., in which an open-topped work holding tub is mounted on a carriagewhich in turn is supported on a fixed frame by resilient mounts wherebythe carriage and the tub may have orbital movement relative to theframe. A counterpoise structure is also supported on the fixed frameadjacent to the tub carriage by resilient mounts and a common eccentricdrive shaft imparts orbital movement to both the tub carriage and thecounterpoise structure. The forces imposed on the eccentric drive shaftby the orbital movement of the resiliently mounted tub carriage and thetub are oppposed and balanced by the forces imposed on the eccentricdrive shaft by the orbital movement of the resiliently mountedcounterpoise structure. This arrangement provides a smooth runningmechanism which may be operated at high speed without setting updangerous and harmful vibrations in the apparatus itself or in thebuilding which it is housed.

In the operation of finishing apparatus of this type an abrasivefinishing medium such as steel shot, stone particles, or other suit-ablematerial, selected according to the results desired, is charged into thetub with the articles to be finished A liquid, for example water, isusually, but not always, added to facilitate the polishing, de-burringor other finishing action of the finishing medium on the work. In theapparatus of the above-identified copending patent'application, and inother finishing apparatus of this general type, the finishing is carriedon in batches, the apparatus being completely stopped to empty the tubat the completion of each finishing cycle and the tub then beingrecharged with articles to be finished, abrasive media and liquidvehicle and the operation repeated.

The stopping of the apparatus for emptying the tubs, recharging them andstarting up again is a time consuming operation and it is one of theobjects of the present invention to provide a vibratory finishingapparatus by which this time is minimized in bath operation and whichmay also be adapted to operate continuously with-out stopping or shutdown. To this end means are provided whereby articles may beintermittently or continuously deposited in one end of the tub andintermittently or continuously discharged from the other end withoutstopping the orbital movement thereof. Advantageously, the generallycylindrical tub is mounted on the carriage with the tub axis slightlyinclined and defining an acute angle, as viewed both in elevation and inplan, with the axis of the substantially horizontal vibratory driveshaft. This angular rel-ationship causes the vibratory forces developedby the drive shaft to move the workpieces through a substantiallyhelical path to insure substantially equal finishing of all workpiecesand to aid the discharge of finished workpieces from the lower end ofthe tub.

The tub is provided with a discharge elbow rotatably mounted around thedischarge port. The length of the angularly depending portion issufiicient to prevent the discharge of workpieces when the elbow isrotated to a position in which the depending portion is directedupwardly. When the work-pieces are to be discharged, the elbow isrotated to direct the angularly depending portion downwardly. With thisarrangement, there will be no change in the area of the dischargeopening and the parts can be quickly and easily discharged. Further, thedischarge of parts can be quickly and easily terminated. The finishingmedium may be intermittently or continuously charged into and removedfrom the vtub without stopping same, the undesirable fines which resultfrom the finishing process may be separated out and removed, and theliquid vehicle may be intermittently or continuously withdrawn,separated from an entrained undesirable material, and returned to thetub during operation thereof.

Further objects of my invention include the provision of an improvedfinishing machine in which the work receiving vessel or tub is disposedfor convenient loading and unloading of workpieces and finishing mediumthereinto and which may be readily discharged without stopping itsvibratory movement; the provision of an orbital type finishing machineof compact and rugged design in which the tub may be loaded from one endand unloaded from the other end during operation thereof; the provisionof a vibratory finishing machine which will not transmit substantialvibration to the floor or other support on which it is mounted; and theprovision of a vibratory type finishing machine which may be operatedcontinuously, which requires a minimum of upkeep, and which may beeconomically constructed and maintained.

The above and other objects of my invention will appear from thefollowing description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative perspective View showing the improvedcontinuous finishing machine including the orbital type vibratoryfinishing tub, the work and finishing medium separating screen, themedium recirculating mechanism, and the fluid vehicle cleaning andcirculating apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a plan on a somewhat larger scale of the apparatus illustratedin FIG 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, partially broken away forclearness, of the finishing tub and its support and drive means;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view, taken from the right in FIG. 3,illustrating the vibration damping tub support mechanism, the tub beingremoved;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view taken substantially on line 55 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a plan taken substantially on line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a detached end view of the finishing tub, parts being brokenaway to show the inner contour thereof and the end dischargearrangement;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the front end of the finishing tub and thedischarge arrangement, partly in section;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of the .rear end of thefinishing tub; and

In FIG. 1, which is a general perspective view of my improved apparatus,and in FIG. 2 which is a plan view thereof, the orbital finishing unitis generally indicated at A, the medium and work separator unit at S,the fluid settling and recirculating tank at R, and the mediumrecirculating conveyor at M. Seen asin FIGS. 1 and 2, the "finishingunit A, except for the tub T, is enclosed in a pro- 'tective sheet metalcasing. In FIGS. 3-6 inclusive, the orbital finishing unit isillustrated with the enclosing cover removed. Broadly speaking, thefinishing unit A includes a stationary frame generally indicated at F, atub supporting carriage structure generally indicated at C, acounterpoise structure generally indicated at P, a work carrying tub T,and drive means D for imparting the desired movement to the tub carriageand tub.

The frame structure (see FIGS. 3 and 4) consists of a generallyrectangular base 2 on which are mounted upright columns 3 and 4. Thecolumn 3 is made up of angle members 5 and 5' which extend upward fromthe base 2 and are connected by suitable top and bottom cross members-6and 6'. Top ofifset angle tub carriage support flanges 7 and 8 aresecured at the top of column 3 and project in 'the opposite directionfrom the angles 5 and 5'. Similar bottom offsetangle tub carriagesupport flanges 7 and 8' are secured at the bottom of the column 3.

In like manner, the column 4 has vertical angle members 9 and 10connected by top and bottom cross members 6 and 6 oppositely extendingtop ofiset angle tube carriage supports 11 and 12, and bottom tubcarriage'supports oneof which is seen at 12' in FIG. 4. The upper edgesof the oppositely extending flanges of the angles 5 and 5 and the tubcarriage supports 7 and 8, and the corresponding upper edges of theangles 9 and 10 and the tub carriage supports 11 and 12, are eachprovided with a downwardly extending slot 13 to receive resilient shearmount members as will be later described. Suitable reinforcing crossmembers 3 and 4, extending between the columns 3 and '4, are alsoprovided to impart the desired rigidity to the structure (see FIG. 4). v

The tub carriage structure C, as best seen in FIGS. 3 6, includes a pairof upright H-shaped tub carrying members generally indicated at 14 and15. The front (as seen in FIG. 3) tub carrying member 14 includes a pairof vertical uprights 17 and 18 connected together by a transversehorizontal center cross member 19. The rear tub carying member 15, inlike manner, consists of a pair of vertical uprights 17 and 18'connected together by a center cross member 19. The two H-shaped members14 and 15 are secured together by transverse struts 16 which connect thevertical members 17 and 17 and similar transverse struts 16 whichconnect the vertical members 18 and .18. A pair of parallel angle irons20, 21 are secured in acuate angular relationship to center crossmembers 19, 19 and are employed as tub supporting channels to supportthe tub T with its axis forming an acute angle with the drive shaft axisand with the tub axis slightly inclined in a manner which will besubsequently described.

Heavy transverse bars 22 and 23 are secured to the lower ends of each ofthe H-shaped end members 14 and '15 and extend across between thevertical uprights 17, 17' and 18, 18' thereof. These bars 22 and 23constitute weights which are designed to balance the weight of the tub Tand the work load carried therein.

The tub carriage C is suspended at its upper end in the frame F by fourresilient shear mounts 30, 31, 32, and 33. Each of these mounts (seeFIG. 3) comprises a cylindrical resilient body of rubber or the likehaving coaxial bolts and 36 embedded therein and extending out from itsopposite ends which are flat and parallel. The inner ends f bolts 35and'36, which are bonded in the resilient body, are spaced from eachother to provide a resilient connection between the stationary frame Fand the tub supporting carriage C whereby the carriage may have orbitalor other vibratory movement independently of and relative to the frame.Such movement, however, is restricted by the mounts 30-33 to beingsubstantially in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the tub T.

The mounts 30, 31, 32 and 33 are respectively secured at the upper endsof the tub carriage vertical uprights 17 18, 17 and 18', the bolts 35 ofthe mounts extending through holes in the uprights and being securedthereto by nuts 35 as indicated in the drawings. The opposite bolts 36of the mounts 30, 31, 32 and 33 are lowered into the slots 13 in theupper edges of the offset angle tub carrying supports 7, 8, 11 and 12 ofthe frame F when the carriage C is lowered into position in the frame F.When the bolts 36 are disposed at the bottom ends of slots 13 they aresecured therein by nuts 36' (see FIG. 6).

Resilient shear mounts 38, 39 and 40, similar in all respects to theshear mounts 30-33, are bolted to the bottom oifset angle tub carryingsupport flanges 8, 12' and 7' respectively (see FIGS. 3 and 4) andanother similar mount, not seen in the drawings, is secured to the tubsupporting flange on column 4 which corresponds to flange 7' on column3. Upwardly evtending slots such as shown at 42 (FIG. 3) are formed inthe bottom ends the vertical uprights 17, 18, 17' and 18' of the tubcarriage C, and the open bottom ends of these slots receive the bolts atthe outer ends of the bottom shear mounts when the carriage C is loweredinto position in the frame F.

The workpiece carrying tub T, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 7, 8 and 9, ismounted on the carriage C above the'cross members 19 and 19' of theH-shaped tub carrying members 14 and 15; is generally cylindrical inshape; and has its longitudinal axis 24 inclined at an angle less than 5and preferably of the order of 1", as indicated in FIG. '10, andextending at an acute angle relative to the drive shaft, as shown inFIG. 6. With this orientation of tub axis, the workpieces enter thecharging opening, which will be subsequently described, and travelthrough a substantially helical path to the discharge opening, thusassuring uniform finishing of all workpieces. A curved wall 45 definesthe bottom and part of the sides of the tub and vertical side panels 46and 47, an apertured rear wall 48, formed with a charging opening 49,and an apertured front end wall 50, formed within a discharge opening5011, complete the tub. The upper edges of the side panels 46 and 47 andend walls 48 and 49 provide support for a tub lid or cover 57.

The tub T includes a base plate 55 secured to the curved wall 45- bygussets 56. When the tub T is mounted on the tub supporting carriage Cthis base plate 55 rests upon and is removably secured (as by screws orbolts, not shown) to the tub sup-porting channels 20, 21. The length ofthe tub T is preferably such that the ends thereof project somewhatoutside of or beyond the front and rear H-shaped tub carrying members 14and 15. The tub T is provided with a charging hopper, or funnel, 58(FIG. 9) joined to the rear wall 48 and tapering toward an inlet orcharging opening 59. With this arrangement the hopper 58 and the chargeopening 50 are unobstructed by other parts of the structure.

The discharge opening 50 is provided with a tubular discharge elbow 51(FIGS. 7 and 8). Elbow 51 is rotatably supported in alignment with thedischarge opening 50 by means of a clamping sleeve 52 held on to end 49of the tub T by means of a ring 53. The clamping sleeve 52 can beloosened or tightened relative to elbow 51 by means of a contra-threadedbolt 54. To discharge workpieces from the tub, bolt 54 is rotated toloosen the engagement of the elbow 51 and the elbow 51 is rotated.

until the angularly depending portion projects downwardly, as indicatedin dotted outline. After discharge is completed, the elbow 51 is rotatedto its solid line position and locked in position by bolt 54. This typeof discharge arrangement exhibits advantages over a sliding doorarrangement because the elbow does not employ a change in the dischargearea. Further, discharge can be quickly and easily controlled, evenwhile parts are being discharged. Still further, the elbow 51 may berotated to any position intermediate the upward and downward positionsto permit'continuous metered discharge of finished workpieces, themetering rate being determined by the angle of .projection of elbow 51relative to the horizontal. Thus, the elbow contributes to thesuccessful continuous cycling of the finishing apparatus.

4 By means of the double H-frame tub carriage C, a rigid support isprovided for the work receiving tub T, the length of which is limitedonly by the distance between the front and rear H-shaped members 14 and15. It will also be understood that in some cases, one or moreadditional intermediate H-shaped tub carrying members may be supportedfrom the frame F between the end pair 14 and 15 of suchmembers.

Because of the vertical H-shaped tub support, with the .tub mounted inthe upper portion thereof and above the transverse cross members 19 and19, there is no structure overlying the charging hopper 58 of the tub ordisposed at the other, or discharge end of the tub. As previously noted,this permits unobstructed loading of the tub at one end and unobstructeddischarge from the other end thereof. As will be later described, thisarrangement will permit continuous charging of articles to be finishedinto the hopper 58 of the tub at the end thereof opposite tothe-discharge opening 50 and continuous discharge of finished articlesand finishing medium from the end discharge opening 50.

In order to balance the forces that are imposed upon the drive shaft (tobe later described) and to minimize the vibration transmitted to theframe F during gyration of the tub supporting carriage C, a pair ofcounterpoise struc tures P and P are provided. As these structures aresubstantially identical in form and arrangement, only counterpoise P atthe front of the finishing unit A will be described in detail.

The counterpoise P, like the tub supporting carriage C is generally anH-shaped structure having a pair of vertical side members 60, 61connected by a center transverse member 62. At the upper ends of members60 and 61, resilient shear mounts 63 and 64, similar to mounts 30-33,are secured by bolts 63' and 64 which extend through holes in the upperends of members 60 and 61. The bolts which project from the oppositeends of shear mounts 63 and-64 are carried in those of the slots 13 andother than the ones having the tub frame shear mounts in the upper endsof the vertical frame members 4 and 5. Bottom shear. mounts 65 and 66are bolted to the lower ends of the vertical frame members 5 and 10,respectively, and the lower ends of the members 60 and 61 of thecounterpoise P are slotted at 67 and 68 (see FIG. 3) to receive bolts65' and 66' which project from the outer ends of the shear mounts 65 and66.

From the above, it will be observed that when it is desired to supportthe counterpoise P on the frame F, thebolts which project from the innerends of the shear mounts 63 and 64 (which are bolted to the'upper endsof members 60 and 61 of the counterpoise) are inserted into the slots13' in the upper ends of the uprights 5 and on the frame structure andat the same time the slots 67 and 68 at the lower ends of members 60 and61' of the counterpoise P receive the bolts 65' and 66' of the bottomshear supports 65 and 66.

-Counter balancing weights 69 and 70 are secured to the transversecenter member 62 of the counterpoise P for purposes which will be laterdescribed. To add rigidity to the counterpoise structure stiffening webs71, 72, 73

and 74 are secured to the members 60 and 61 and the transverse member 62as by welding. The resilient shear mounts 63, 64, 65 and 66 are sodisposed, and the counterpoise structure P is so designated, that whensupported on the frame F, the counterpoise is entirely out of contacttherewith and also entirely out of contact with the tub supportingcarriage C. The resilient shear mounts permit the counterpoise P tooscillate relative to the frame F and independently of the tub carriageC.

The rear counterpoise structure P is substantially identical with thestructure P but is mounted adjacent to and outside of tub carryingmember 15, at the opposite end of the finishing unit A from tub carryingmember 14, on resilient shear mounts similar to those which support thecounterpoise P, the upper two mounts being seen at 75 and 76 in FIG. 3.As the counterpoise P is mounted in the same manner as counterpoise P italso is supported for limited orbital movement independently of theframe F and the tub carriage Q As seen in FIG. 3, one of the pairs ofH-shaped counterpoise structures P and P is supported adjacent each ofthe pair of H-shaped tub carrying members 14 and 15 with the transversemembers 62 of the counterpoise structures horizontally disposed andaligned with the cross members 19 and 19' of the tub carrying members.

The drive mechanism for imparting orbital movement to the tub supportingcarriage C and the tub T is generally indicated at D on FIG. 6 of thedrawings. As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 8, this drive meansincludes a drive motor 82 mounted on a supporting bracket 81 which ispivotally mounted on the frame F at 89 (see FIG. 5). A floating driveshaft 83 has end and center portions 83a, 83b and 83c (see FIG. 5) andits axis extends normally to the transverse cross members 19 and 19' ofthe tub carriage C. The drive shaft axis 24 lies in a horizontal planeand the tub axis 24 is positioned in a slightly inclined plane.Preferably, the angle of inclination is less than 5 and an angle of 1'is sufi'icient to produce the proper movement of workpieces toward thedischarge opening 50. Also, preferably, the channels 20, 21 support thetub T in a position such that the tub axis 24 lies in a vertical planedefining an acute angle with the vertical plane containing the axis ofdrive shaft 83. This angle is less than 30 and preferably is of theorder of 5. This angular relationship contributes to the continuousoperation of the machine by translating a component of force from driveshaft 83 to the workpieces in the tub T in direction tending to move theworkpieces through the tub discharge opening 50.

An eccentric counterpoise engaging portion 83d of shaft 83 (FIG. 6) isrotatably mounted in a bearing 84 carried by the center transversemember 62 of the front counterpoise structure P. Adjacent to eccentriccounterpoise engaging shaft portion 83d is a tub carriage engagingeccentric shaft portion 832 which is supported in a suitable bearing 85in the cross member 19 of the front H-shaped tub carrying member 14 ofthe tub supporting carriage C.

In like manner, at the rear counterpoise engaging eccentric eccentricportion 83d) extends through a suitable bearing 84' in the transversemember 62 of the rear counterpoise P and a tub carriage engagingeccentric portion 83g (oflset from eccentric portion 83f and coaxialwith eccentric portion 83e) extends through a bearing 85' in the crossmember 19 of the rear H- shaped tub carrying member 15 of the tubsupport carriage C.

The rear end 83a of shaft 83 has a pulley 86 secured thereto and thedriving belt 87 extends between the pulley 86 and the drive motor pulley88. As the motor support bracket 81 is pivotally secured at its innerend 89 at (see FIG. 5) to the frame F, the weight of the motor 82 andthe bracket 81 maintains the belt 87 under substantially constanttension regardless of any minor variations in the position of the whichmay occur during starting, the apparatus. v

If it is desired that the tub carriage C and the tub T have an orbitalmovement of approximately amplitude, the common center line of theportions of shaft 83, which extend through the bearings 85 and 85' andactivate the carriage C, will be olfset approxiend of drive shaft 83, a

stopping or operation of portion 83 (coaxial with.

center line of shaft 83' 83c and 83g mately 3%" from the main shaftcenter line of the coaxial portions 83a, 83b and 830.

In order that the forces that are imposed on the tub carriage C and thetub T during rotation of shaft 83 will be properly counterbalanced andopposed by the counterpoise members P and P, the common center line ofthe shaft portions 83d and 83 which extend through and are supported inbearings 84 and 84 in counterpoise members P and P, is offset the samedistance (approximately 1A on the opposite :side of the main shaftcenter line and 180 .from the common center line of portions 83e and83g.

The counterpoise .members P and P are so designed that their centers ofinertia or mass lie in close juxtaposition to the main axis of the shaft83 and the tub carriage C and the tub T are so designed that the centerof mass or inertia 'thereof, with the designed load of parts andfinishing materials in the tub, is also in close juxtaposition to themain axis of the shaft 83 and for-ms an acute angle therewith, aspreviously mentioned.

Now, when the motor 82 is operated and the shaft 83 is rotated, orbitalmovement will be imparted to the tub carriage C and to the tub T and itscontents. A corresponding but opposed orbital movement will also beimparted to the counterpoise members P and P, these orbital movementsbeing permitted by the resilient shear mounts which support thesestructures relative to the frame F. Due to the balancing of the orbitimparting forces applied to the tub carriage and tub as one unit and tothe counterpoise structures as another -unit during the above describedoperation of this apparatus, the main shaft center line or axis of theportions 83a, 83b and 83c of the shaft 83 and hence the center of drivepulley 86, will remain substantially stationary and a minimum ofvibratory forces will be transmitted to the frame structure F and thefoundation upon which it is supported.

The orbital finishing unit A has been described above. Referringparticularly to FIGS. 1, '2 and 9, the finishing medium and workseparator unit S, the fluid settling and recirculating'tank R, and thefinishing medium recirculating conveyor M will now be described.

The separator nnit'S includes a frame structure 95 on which a screen boxor housing 96 is rockably supported on pivotal supports 97 and 98. Asseen in FIG. 1, the screen box 96 is inclined downwardly to the rightand suitable drive means 96' is provided for imparting oscillatingrocking motionto the box 96 on its supports 97 and 98. A finishingmedium discharge chute 99 extends from one end of the screen box 96 andan upper work discharge chute I and a lower waste fines discharge chute101 extend from the opposite end.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the upper course screen 102 receives materialdischarged from the tub T by the elhow 51. This screen is of largeenough mesh to permit the finishing medium to pass therethrough but will.retain thereon the workpieces that have been discharged from the tub T.Due to the inclination of this screen 102 downwardly to the right asseen in .FIG. '1, and to the oscillating vibratory movement thereof, thearticles that have been finished move thereover and are discharged bythe upper chute 100. The finishing medium and any discharged liquidvehicle pass through the upper screen 102 and the finishing medium isstopped by the lower relatively fine mesh screen 103.'This screen isinclined in a direction opposite to upper screen 102 so that thefinishing medium particles thereon will travel to the left (FIGS. 1 and2) into the finishing medium discharge chute 99 which, as seen in FIG.1, is inclined downwardly and extends to the medium recirculating conveyor M.

The fluid vehicle and fine particles of abrasive material removed fromthe parts being finished pass through the lower screen 103 to theinclined bottom of the screen box 96 and then travelto the right (FIG. 1to the waste fines outlet chute 101 which discharges them into a suit- 8able receptacle (not shown). .From the preceding :description it will beobserved that the separator'unitS will separate and convey to differentlocations the parts that have been finished in the tub, the finishingmedium and the waste .fines and liquid that result from the finishingoperation.

In order to maintain the desired quantity and quality of liquid (such aswater) in the tub T, a recirculating and cleaning system is providedwhich includes "the settling and recirculating tank R, an inlet hose 104which extends from tank R and discharges into the open top of the tub T,and an outlet hose 105 which connects to drain openings 106 in thebottom of the tub 'T and conducts the liquid from the tub T to the tankR. 'The tank R provides means whereby sludge from the finishingoperation which is entrained in the liquid vehicle withdrawn from thetub T may be permitted to settle out from the liquid, thus providing asource of clean liquid which may be recirculated by means of a pump 107through'th'e hose 104 back to the tub T. A valve .108 in hose 104 isadapted to shut off or throttle the flow of clean liquid back to the tubT and valve means, not shown, are provided to control the discharge ofliquid from the tub T through hose 105.

By means of this liquid vehicle settling and recirculating apparatus thesludge which results from the abrasive cleaning operation may becontinuously removed from the circulating liquid vehicle, thusmaintaining most efficient cutting action at all times and result-ing incleaner and brighter finished parts. A trough 109 on top of tank R isadapted to receive liquid from the tub T which is discharged from thespout 110 when the tub is emptied of liquid at the end of a batchfinishing operation. Suitable connections and valves (not shown) controlthe flow of liquid from the tub T to the spout 110 and tr'ough 109discharges into tank R through an outlet '111 (FIG. 2).

The medium recirculating conveyor M, which receives the finishing mediumfrom the separator unit S and returns it to the tub T, is best seen inFIGS. 1, 2 and-1'0. A vertical housing or tower has a medium receivinghopper 116 at its lower end. The medium discharge chute 99 of theseparator unit S has its outlet withinthehopper 116 and discharges theparticles of finishing medium 'thereinto.

As best seen in FIG. 10, the inner bottom wall 117 of the tower 115 iscurved to facilitate picking up of the medium which enters the bottom ofthe "tower 115 from the hopper 116 by the conveyor buckets '118 whichare mounted on a conveyor chain 119. The conveyor chain 119 is endlessand extends around a bott'om sprocket 120 rotatably mounted on a shaft121 and an upper sprocket 122 mounted on drive shaft 123. The top shaftbearings 123' are mounted for vertical adjustment in guideways 124 and125 and tension on the chain 119 may be maintained at the proper valueby the adjusting screws 126 which extend through suitable threadedapertures in plate 127 mounted on the tower 1'1'5.

The chain and bucket conveyor just described is driven by a motor 128,mounted on a bracket 129 on the 'tower 115, through a belt 130 (FIG. '2)which extend from the motor pulley 131 to the pulley 132 which ismounted on the end of the shaft 123. An outlet opening 133 in the upperpart of tower 115 opens into the medium re ceiving box 134 which ismounted on the side of the tower 115 and a guideplate or bafiie 135,which extends inwardly into the tower 115 adjacent the bottom of out letopening 133, is adapted to direct the finishing medium; into thereceiving box 134 as it is dumped from the buckets 118 when they passover the top sprocket 122.

As seen in FIG. 10 and indicated by arrows, the conveyor chain 119travels in counterclockwise direction so that the open ends of thebuckets 118 are on top as the buckets move upwardly, and are on thebottom as the buckets move downwardly. An inclined chute 136,

supported by a bracket 136', extends from the bottom of the receivingbox 134 to a point above the charging hopper 58 of the tub T as seen inFIG. 2. In order to shut off or regulate the flow of medium through thechute 136 to the tub T, a movable balfie or damper 137 is supported on ashaft 138 extending across the chute 136 near its upper end. As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, this damper 137 is open to permit the free flow offinishing medium through the chute 136. A handle 139 on the outer end ofshaft 138 will facilitate adjustment of the position of the :damper 137and permit same to be moved transversely of the chute 136 to block theflow of finishing medium therethrough, when desired. When the baffle 137is closed, the finishing medium which is elevated by the conveyorbuckets 118 will be collected in the receiving box 134.

From the above explanation of the improved finishing apparatus, it willbe understood that it is adapted for operation cyclically orcontinuously, that the tub support and balancing mechanism is such thatthe open top of the tub is fully exposed and accessible While the endsof the tub are also fully exposed to permit free, and if desired,continuous discharge therefrom. Furthermore, although one illustrativeembodiment of this invention has been described in considerable detail,it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made inthe particular form and arrangement of the several elements thereofwithout departing from the spirit of this invention. It is not,therefore, limited to the exact apparatus herein shown and described.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in appendedclaims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Vibratory finishing apparatus including a frame structure, a tubcarrying member having a pair of uprights and a cross member extendingbetween said uprights, resilient shear mount means on said framestructure for supporting said tub carrying member on said uprights, aWork carrying tub mounted on said tub carrying member between saiduprights and above said cross member thereof, said tub having itslongitudinal axis extending at an acute angle relative to said crossmember and having a charging opening in one end thereof and a dischargeopening in the other end thereof, a drive shaft having its axisextending substantially normally to said cross member of said tubecarrying member, said shaft having an eccentric portion having bearingin said cross member, means for rotating said shaft, a counterpoisestructure having a pair of side members connected by a transversemember, resilient mount means on said frame structure for supportingsaid counterpoise structure on said side members thereof, said driveshaft having a second eccentric portion offset substantially from saidfirst eccentric portion and having bearing in said transverse member ofsaid counterpoise structure, the center of mass of said tub carryingmember and tub with designed load therein and the center of mass of saidcounterpoise structure being disposed in close juxtaposition to saidaxis of said drive shaft.

2. Vibratory finishing apparatus according to claim 1 which includes aplurality of said counterpoise structures, one supported on said framestructure by said resilient shear mount means adjacent to each of saidtub carrying members and wherein said longitudinal tub axis lies in avertical plane defining an acute angle of less than 30 with a verticalplane containing said drive shaft axis and wherein said tub axis lies inan inclined plane having an angle of inclination of less than 5 3.Vibratory finishing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said shaftaxis is substantially horizontal and wherein said acute angle issubstantially 5.

4. Vibratory finishing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said angleof inclination is of the order of 1 degree.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,516,802 11/1924 Wellman 68-208X 2,170,832 8/1939 Minich 51-263 X 2,414,038 1/1947 Gossard 51-263 X2,660,835 12/1953 Burden 51-163 X 2,728,614 4/ 1955 Rink.

3,071,900 1/1963 Balz 51-163 3,108,408 10/1963 Dahlquist 51-1633,187,473 6/1965 .Ruppe 51-163 X 3,253,369 5/1966 Reichert 51-163 HAROLDD. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. VIBRATORY FINISHING APPARATUS INCLUDING A FRAME STRUCTURE, A TUBCARRYING MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF UPRIGHTS AND A CROSS MEMBER EXTENDINGBETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS, RESILIENT SHEAR MOUNT MEANS ON SAID FRAMESTRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING SAID TUB CARRYING MEMBER ON SAID UPRIGHTS, AWORK CARRYING TUB MOUNTED ON SAID TUB CARRYING MEMBER BETWEEN SAIDUPRIGHTS AND ABOVE SAID CROSS MEMBER THEREOF, SAID TUB HAVING ITSLONGITUDINAL AXIS EXTENDING AT AN ACUTE ANGLE RELATIVE TO SAID CROSSMEMBER AND HAVING A CHARGING OPENING IN ONE END THEREOF AND A DISCHARGEOPENING IN THE OTHER END THEREOF, A DRIVE SHAFT HAVING ITS AXISEXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMALLY TO SAID CROSS MEMBER OF SAID TUBECARRYING MEMBER, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN ECCENTRIC PORTION HAVING BEARINGIN SAID CROSS MEMBER, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT, A COUNTERPOISESTRUCTURE HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE MEMBERS CONNECTED BY A TRANSVERSEMEMBER, RESILIENT MOUNT MEANS ON SAID FRAME STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTINGSAID COUNTERPOISE STRUCTURE ON SAID SIDE MEMBERS THEREOF, SAID DRIVESHAFT HAVING A SECOND ECCENTRIC PORTION OFFSET SUBSTANTIALLY 180* FROMSAID FIRST ECCENTRIC PORTION AND HAVING BEARING IN SAID TRANSVERSEMEMBER OF SAID COUNTERPOISE STRUCTURE, THE CENTER OF MASS OF SAID TUBCARRYING MEMBER AND TUB WITH DESIGNED LOAD THEREIN AND THE CENTER OFMASS OF SAID COUNTERPOISE STRUCTURE BEING DISPOSED IN CLOSEJUXTAPOSITION TO SAID AXIS OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT.